### CBS News' Race and Culture Unit at Center of Controversy Over Interview Vetting Process

CBS News' Race and Culture Unit has come under scrutiny for its role in vetting show scripts to ensure they do not offend specific viewers, a former staffer revealed to Fox News Digital. The former employee shared that producers were obligated to send drafts of their scripts to the Race and Culture Unit and the standards and practices unit for approval before proceeding.

CBS News' Race and Culture Unit gained attention recently following reports that "CBS Mornings" co-host Tony Dokoupil faced backlash for his unapproved line of questioning during an interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates. Dokoupil's questions were seen as contentious, particularly his comment suggesting that Coates' book, "The Message," could resemble something found “in the backpack of an extremist.” This book discusses Coates' experiences in Israel and the Palestinian territories and has faced criticism for its portrayal of the Israeli situation.

The backlash from this interview elevated the issue to CBS’s Race and Culture Unit, which was created in summer 2020 in response to the George Floyd incident. The unit, led by Alvin Patrick, assesses the tone, content, and intention of segments aired on the network. According to Puck media reporter Dylan Byers, the unit found Dokoupil's questions acceptable but criticized his tone.

Additionally, CBS's Standards and Practices division, headed by Claudia Milne, pointed out that Dokoupil did not follow the mandatory preproduction procedure, which requires all interview questions to be vetted by both the Race and Culture Unit and Standards and Practices. CBS leadership later informed the staff that the interview did not meet the company’s editorial standards, based on an audio recording obtained by the Free Press.

The Race and Culture Unit, described on the CBS website, plays multiple roles, including reviewing content to ensure it aligns with the proper context, tone, and intention. Despite requests for clarification from Fox News Digital, CBS did not respond regarding whether nearly every story must be vetted by this unit.

Following the incident, The New York Times reported that Dokoupil was required to meet with both the standards and practices team and the Race and Culture Unit. Though Dokoupil regretted the turmoil caused by the interview, he stood by his line of questioning.